Military ranks in World War II

The following table shows the comparable officer ranks of the most important Allies and Axis powers in World War II.

Not shown are:

• China (on the side of the allies)
• France (on the side of the Allies)
• Poland (on the side of the Allies)

KEY:

Cross-TSK

marine

army

Luftwaffe - only "blue" rank designation if different from Army

Other ranks without assignment to a TSK or type of weapon; Example: Political Officers (USSR)

Approximate equivalent
	UK , British Empire and Commonwealth	United States of America	Soviet Union	German Empire	Italy	Finland	Japan
-	-	-	Generalissimo of the Soviet Union (Генерали́ссимус Сове́тского Сою́за)	-	First Marshal of the Empire	Marshal of Finland	Dai-Gensui ( Japanese 大元帥 )
-	-	-	-	Reichsmarschall of the Greater German Reich	-	-	-
OF-10	Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the RAF	Fleet Admiral General of the Army	Marshal of the Soviet Union (Ма́ршал Сове́тского Сою́за)	Grand Admiral Field Marshal Reichsführer SS	Grand'Ammiraglio Maresciallo d'Italia Maresciallo dell'Aria	Field Marshal	Gensui (元帥)
OF-9	Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	Admiral General	Chief Marshal of a branch of service (Главный маршал) Fleet Admiral (Адмирал флота) Army General (Генерал армии) Marshal of a branch of service (Маршал) Army Commissioner 1st rank Army Commissioner 2nd rank	General Admiral Colonel General SS Colonel Group Leader and Colonel General of the Waffen SS	Ammiraglio d'Armata Generale d'Armata Generale d'Armata Aerea	Amiraali Amiral Kenraali General	Kaigun-Taishō (海軍 大将) Rikugun-Taishō (陸軍 大将)
OF-8	Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Air Marshal	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General	Admiral (Адмира́л) Colonel General (Генера́л-полко́вник) Corps Commissioner	Admiral General SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen SS	Ammiraglio di Squadra Generale di Corpo d'Armata Generale di Squadra Aerea	Vara-amiraali Viceamiral Kenraaliluutnantti Generallöjtnant	Kaigun-Chūjhō (海軍 中将) Rikugun-Chūjō (陸軍 中将)
OF-7	Rear-Adm. Major-General Air Vice-Marshal	Rear Admiral Major General	Vice Admiral (Ви́це-адмира́л) Lieutenant General (Генера́л-лейтена́нт) Division Commissioner	Vice Admiral Lieutenant General SS group leader and lieutenant general of the Waffen SS	Ammiraglio di Divisione Generale di Divisione Generale di Divisione Aerea	Kontra-amiraali Rear Admiral Kenraalimajuri Major General	Kaigun-Shōshō (海軍 少将) Rikugun-Shōshō (陸軍 少将)
OF-6	Commodore Brigadier Air Commodore	Commodore Brigadier General	Rear Admiral (Ко́нтр-адмира́л) Major General (Генера́л-майо́р) Brigade Commissar	Rear Admiral Major General SS Brigadefuhrer and Major General of the Waffen SS	Contrammiraglio Generale di Brigata Generale di Brigata Aerea
OF-5	Captain Colonel Group Captain	Captain Colonel	Captain 1st rank Polkownik Regimental Commissar	Commodore SS-Oberführer (Waffen-SS) Captain of the Sea Colonel SS-Standartenführer (Waffen-SS)	Capitano di Vascello Colonnello	Commodori Commodor Eversti Överste	Kaigun-Daisa (海軍 大佐) Rikugun-Taisa (陸軍 大佐)
OF-4	Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander	Commander Lieutenant Colonel	Captain 2nd rank Podpolkownik Chief Battalion Commissioner	Frigate Captain Lieutenant Colonel SS-Obersturmbannführer (Waffen-SS)	Capitano di Fregata Tenente Colonnello	Komentaja Kommendör Everstiluutnantti Överstelöjtnant	Kaigun-Chūsa (海軍 中 佐) Rikugun-Chūsa (陸軍 中 佐)
OF-3	Lieutenant-Commander Major Squadron Leader	Lieutenant Commander Major	Captain 3rd Ranges Major Battalion Commissar	Corvette Captain Major SS-Sturmbannführer (Waffen-SS)	Capitano di Corvetta Maggiore	Komentajakapteeni Kommendörkapten Majuri Major	Kaigun-Shōsa (海軍 少佐) Rikugun-Shōsa (陸軍 少佐)
OF-2	Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant Captain	Captain lieutenant captain Head of Political Affairs (Oberpolitruk)	Captain lieutenant captain / Rittmeister captain SS-Hauptsturmführer (Waffen-SS)	Primo Capitano Tenente di Vascello Capitano	Kapteeniluutnantti Kaptenlöjtnant Kapteeni Kapten	Kaigun-Daii (海軍 大尉) Rikugun-Taii (陸軍 大尉)
OF-1	Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer	Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant	First Lieutenant First Lieutenant Political Director (Politruk)	Oberleutnant zur See Oberleutnant SS-Obersturmführer (Waffen-SS)	Sottotenente di Vascello Primo Tenente	Luutnantti Löjtnant	Kaigun-Chūi (海軍 中尉) Rikugun-Chūi (陸軍 中尉)
	Commissioned Warrant Officer Second Lieutenant Pilot Officer	Ensign Second Lieutenant	Lieutenant lieutenant Unterpolitleiter (Unterpolitruk) Sub- lieutenant sub- lieutenant	Lieutenant at sea lieutenant SS-Untersturmführer (Waffen-SS)	Guardiamarina Tenente Sottotenente	Aliluutnantti Underlöjtnant Vänrikki Fänrik	Kaigun-Shōi (海軍 少尉) Rikugun-Shōi (陸軍 少尉)
Approximate equivalent

Remarks

1. ↑ Until 1942.
2. ↑ Includes WWII ranks only.
3. ↑ reintroduced in 1943.
4. ↑ Until 1940. The distinction badges were retained until the reintroduction of the shoulder pieces in 1943.
5. ↑ Very rare degree for a sea ​​captain entrusted with admiral duties ; the full name was "captain at sea and commodore". The most famous was Karl Dönitz , who was commodore and leader of the submarines in 1939 before he was promoted to rear admiral and commander of the submarines. Usually it was used to designate the commander of a (smaller) ship formation that could be in command of other sea captains.
6. ↑ Captains in the cavalry were called Rittmeister .

swell

•  ( Page no longer available ) PDF, 571 kB, comparison of the ranks of Japan, Italy and Germany (without SS) with British ranks, summarized in this document for the purpose of paying prisoners of war (POW internees)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Japanese ranks in an American manual from 1944